Basic Concepts

In these pages we use several forms of shorthand and make a few assumptions. Below we explain them in full, in addition to describing fundamental aspects of the Sublime Text 2 editor. All this information will enable you to understand better the content of this guide.

The Data Directory

Sublime Text 2 stores nearly all of the interesting files for users under the data directory. This is a platform-dependent location:

• Windows: %APPDATA%\Sublime Text 2
• OS X: ~/Library/Application Support/Sublime Text 2
• Linux: ~/.Sublime Text 2
• Portable Installation: Sublime Text 2/Data

The Packages Directory

This is a location within the data directory that we’ll keep referring to again and again. You can obtain it by means of an API call: sublime.packages_path(). In this guide, we refer to this location as Packages, packages path or packages folder.

The User Package

Packages/User is a catch-all directory for custom plugins, snippets, macros, etc. Consider it your personal area in the packages folder. Sublime Text 2 will never overwrite the contents of Packages/User during upgrades.

The Python Console

Sublime Text 2 has an embedded Python interpreter. You will find yourself turning to it often in order to inspect Sublime Text 2 settings and to quickly test API calls while you’re writing plugins.

To open the Python console, press Ctrl+` or select View | Show Console in the menu.

Your System’s Python vs Sublime Text 2 Embedded Python

Sublime Text 2 comes with its own Python interpreter and it’s separate from your system’s Python installation. This embedded interpreter is intended only to interact with the plugin API, not for general development.

Textmate Compatibility

Sublime Text 2 is compatible with Textmate snippets, color schemes, .tmLanguage files and .tmPreferences files.

Be Sublime, My Friend

Borrowing from Bruce Lee’s wisdom, Sublime Text 2 can become almost anything you need it to be. In skilled hands, it can defeat an army of ninjas without your breaking a sweat. Empty your mind. Be sublime, my friend.